The Kerala government has not yet submitted the proposal for the Integrated Island Management Plans (IIMPs) as per the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 2019, according to Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh.
He was replying to Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden’s question in the Lok Sabha on whether the Centre proposed to implement IIMPs to meet the unique environmental and infrastructure needs of island communities in Ernakulam, thus enhancing their quality of life and safeguarding their ecosystem.
Mr. Singh said that the Ministry had approved the Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs) for all coastal districts, including Ernakulam, through a letter dated October 16, 2024. IIMPs are prepared as per the CRZ Notification 2019 and are approved based on the proposal received from the State government. The Government of Kerala is yet to submit the IIMP proposal, he said.
The MP had asked whether the government had plans to consider reassessing 13 excluded panchayats in Ernakulam for CRZ-II classification, given their urban-like characteristics and the essential development needs of their residents. It included Alangad, Chendamangalam, Chittattukara, Ezhikkara, Kadungalloor, Karumaloor, Kottuvally, Kunnukara, Puthenvelikkara, Udayamperoor, Vadakkekkara, Kuzhuppilly, and Pallippuram.
The Minister said that the CZMP of Kerala was approved by the Ministry through a letter dated October 16, 2024, based on the recommendation of the technical scrutiny committee meeting held on March 1, 2024, and the recommendations of the National Coastal Zone Management Authority at its 47th meeting held on September 23, 2024. Thereafter, the Ministry has not received any further proposal to date for the inclusion of remaining panchayats in Category-II of the CRZ classification, he said.
Published – July 29, 2025 09:04 pm IST
